Sliding side jaw wrench adjusted by a cam operated, spring-seated, sliding rack catch



Aug. 2, 1966 c. WEBBEKING 3,263,534

SLIDING SIDE JAW WRENCH ADJUSTED BY A CAM SLIDING OPERATED, SPRING-SEATED,

RACK CATCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 10, 1964 INVENTOR. CARL WEBBEKING ATTORNEYS 1966 c. WEBBEKING 3,263,534

SLIDING SIDE JAW WRENCH ADJUSTED BY A CAM OPERATED, SPRING-SEATED, SLIDING RACK CATCH Filed Nov. 10, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CARL WEBBEKING ATTORNEYS g- 2, 1966 c. WEBBEKING 3,263,534

SLIDING SIDE JAW WRENCH ADJUSTED BY A CAM OPERATED, SPRINGSEATED, SLIDING RACK CATCH Filed Nov. 10, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 FIG. l5 m 17 ATTORNEYS Aug. 2, 1966 c. WEBBEKING SLIDING SIDE JAW WRENCH ADJUSTED BY A CAM OPERATED, SPRING-SEATED, SLIDING RACK CATCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 10, 1964 we. hm

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INVENTOR. CARL WEBBEKING m g sflficay, I- la ATTQRNEYS C. WEBBEKING SLIDING SIDE JAW WRENCH ADJUSTED BY A CAM Aug. 2, 1966 OPERATED, SPRING-SEATED, SLIDING RACK CATCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 10, 1964 INVENTOR- CARL WEBBEKING QYYC ATTQRNEYS United States Patent 3,263,534 SLIDING SIDE JAW WRENCH ADJUSTED BY A CAM OPERATED, srRrNG-sEATED, SLIDING RACK CATCH Carl Wehbeking, 3434 W. 148th St., Cleveland, Ohio Filed Nov. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 410,250 12 Claims. ((31.81-143) This invention relates to open-end wrenches of the type having movable jaws adapted to be quickly adjusted to fit a particular nut or other work piece and locked in adjustment until released. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel means for adjusting the relatively movable jaws of a wrench to a desired spacing, locking the jaws during operation and quickly releasing the jaws when the wrench is to be removed from the work piece or adjusted to a new nut size.

Adjustable wrenches of the type commonly referred to as open-end and monkey wrenches, typically use a ratchet and worm arrangement for adjusting the jaws of the wrench to a desired spacing. Heretofore, the adjustment of the jaws of the wrench to the desired spacing has been awkward and time consuming, particularly if the jaws must be moved from a wide open position to a closely spaced position or conversely. Also, in order that the worm be easily turned to facilitate adjustment of the jaws, there is necessarily a degree of sloppiness between the two jaws and, if the jaws are not accurately adjusted, there is a probability that the edges of the faces of the nut or other work piece will be damaged.

In the adjustment mechanism of open-end and monkey wrenches presently in use, the ratchet teeth are generally cut in a surface parallel to the axis about which the wrench is turned. Thus the torsional force applied to the wrench head by turning the handle when the wrench is subjected to a heavy load causes high unit pressures at the surface where the threads of the worm or other adjusting device engage the ratchet teeth. This high concentration of pressure over a relatively small effective area limits the load bearing capacity of the wrench and prevents full utilization of the strength of the material from which the wrench is manufactured.

In the wrench of the present invention, the ratchet teeth are formed in a surface perpendicular to the axis about which the wrench is turned so that most of the forces exerted by one jaw carrying member against the other are borne over a large effective surface area through uniform surface-to-surface contact and unit pressures are therefore relatively low. Also, the effective surface area of the ratchet teeth which bear the forces tending to open the jaws when the wrench is subjected to high loads is relatively large so that here again unit pressures are minimized.

The adjusting means embodied in the present invention enables an operator of the wrench to quickly locate the jaws at the desired spacing, tightly lock the jaws in this adjustment, and quickly open the jaws to release the wrench from the work piece when desired.

These advantages are achieved through the use of a ratchet and pawl mechanism wherein a pawl mounted in a movable jaw carrier is movable in a direction parallel to the axis of turn of the wrench into and out of engagement with ratchet teeth formed in the stationary part of the wrench head. In one embodiment of the invention the pawl is operated by means of a lever having a shaft passing through a circular opening in the pawl. The shaft carries a pin which serves as a cam follower co-operating with a helicoidal cam surface formed in a recess in the ratchet-engaging face of the pawl. By slight turning of the lever, the pin may be moved relative to Patented August 2, T966 the helicoidal cam surface to lift the pawl upwardly out of engagement with the ratchet teeth. Also mounted on the shaft within the movable jaw carrier but adjacent the opposite face of the pawl is a locking plate which turns with the shaft of the lever and which has radially extending ears which may be turned to a position wherein the ears bear against the top of the pawl and lock the pawl in its rack-engaging position.

By pushing the lever in a direction tending to open the jaws, the movable jaw carrier may be opened to its maximum spacing. The movable jaw may then be adjusted to size merely by pressing the jaws together until they fit a desired nut size. A scale inscribed on the wrench head may also be used to set the jaws to a predetermined spacing. Normally, such a scale would be graduated in inch increments or inch increments in smaller wrenches.

The pawl is spring biased toward engagement with the ratchet teeth so that when adjusted to size, the jaws will remain fixed relative to one another while the wrench is used to turn the work piece. By pivoting the lever in a direction tending to close the jaws, the pawl locking member mounted on the shaft is brought to bear against the top surface of the pawl and the bottom surface of the chamber or recess in which the pawl is mounted in the movable jaw carrier to lock the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth.

In another embodiment in which the invention is applied to a monkey wrench, the pawl is operated by means of a sliding button mounted on the movable jaw carrier and having a shaft which extends through a rectangular opening in the pawl. The shaft carries a pin which serves as a cam follower co-operating with a sloping cam surface formed in a recess in the ratchet engaging face of the pawl. Other means for lifting the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet teeth may, of course, be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. By sliding the button in a direction tending to open the jaws, the pin may be moved relative to the sloping cam surface to lift the pawl upwardly out of engagement with the ratchet teeth. By sliding the button in the opposite direction a locking plate mounted on the shaft between the movable jaw carrier and the top face of the pawl may he slid into its locking position in a manner similar to that of the first embodiment described above.

While the locking feature is not necessary to the operation of the wrench, it provides a convenient safeguard against accidental release of the pawl. Wrenches embodying the inventionparticu=larly smaller wrenches may, of course, be made without the locking feature, if desired.

During the operation of the wrench, static forces are transferred from the wrench handle to the movable jaw through the teeth of the pawl. Since the teeth are meshed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of turn, there may be provided a large cross-sectional area of surface-to-surface contact for transferring these forces, thus enabling the Wrench to withstand exceptionally high torsional loads.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rugged quick-adjusting, open-end wrench which will withstand high torsional loads and in which the pawl, ratchet teeth and actuating mechanism for the pawl are encased between the stationary handle portion, the movable jaw portion and the jaw actuator of the wrench.

Another object of the invention is to provide an openend wrench having means for quickly releasing the jaw of the wrench from a work piece and readjusting the jaws to a new nut size.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed de- 3 scription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an adjustable open-end wrench embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a wrench head for an adjustable open-end wrench of the type shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the wrench head taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1, showing the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, showing the pawl in its disengaged position;

FIGURE 6 is a top elevational view of the pawl taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a bottom elevational view of the pawl taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 1, showing the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary top elevational view with parts broken away, of a modified form of wrench head without the locking feature, for an open-end wrench of the type shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of the wrench head of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is an elevational view of the wrench head of FIGURE 9, showing the movable jaw carrier removed and viewed from the opposite side to that shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12- 12 of FIGURE 9, showing the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 9, showing the pawl disengaged from the ratchet teeth;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 1414 of FIGURE 11 with parts removed to show one of the cam surfaces;

FIGURE 15 is a plan view of a monkey wrench embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1616 of FIGURE 15 showing the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth;

FIGURE 17 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 17-17 of FIGURE 15 FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1616 of FIGURE 15 showing the pawl disengaged from the ratchet teeth; and

FIGURE 19 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly of the movable jaw carrier of the wrench of FIGURE 15.

FIGURES 1 TO 8 Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG- URES l to 8 show an adjustable open-end wrench utilizing an adjusting means of the type embodied in the present invention. The wrench A generally comprises a handle 1 and a wrench head 2 which includes a stationary portion 3 integral with the handle 1 and a movable jaw carrier 4. Each of the members 3 and 4 has a workengaging jaw 5 and 6 for gripping a work piece therebetween. The stationary portion 3 has an upper face 7 having a box type slideway 8 formed therein defined by a floor 9 and overhanging sidewalls 10. At one end of the floor 9 of the slideway 8 is a recess 11 having ratchet teeth 12 formed therein as best shown in FIGURE 2.

The movable jaw carrier 4 includes a slide 13 adapted for adjustable interlocation in the slideway 8. The bottom face 14 of the movable jaw carrier 4 has a key 15 which is received in a slot 16 formed in the bottom face 17 of the stationary portion 3 as best shown in FIGURE 3.

In assembled relation, the movable jaw carrier 4 may be slid relative to the stationary portion 3 to.provide a suitable range of jaw spacings. The opening movement of the jaws is limited by a machine screw 18 received in a threaded bore in the bottom face 17 of the stationary portion 3. The end of the screw 18 projects into a slot 19 formed in the slide 13 and engages the end of the slot when the slide is moved to a position of maximum jaw spacing. This prevents the slide 13 from sliding out of the slideway 8.

Formed in the bottom face of the slide 13 is a chamber 20 adapted to receive a pawl 21 which is mounted for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 12. A circular opening 22 formed in the floor of the chamber 20 extends through the slide 13 and is concentric with a circular opening 23 formed in the pawl 21. The opening 23 extends to a recess 24 cut in the ratchet engaging face of the pawl 21. The recess 24 is best shown in FIGURE 7 and is formed to provide a helicoidal cam surface to be used in the operation of the pawl 21 as will be hereinafter described.

Formed in the top face of the pawl 21 concentric with the opening 23 is a counter bore 25 adapted to receive a locking member 26. The locking member 26 has radially extending cars 27 which are received in notches 28 at the sides of the counter bore 25. The notches 28 are large enough to permit limited rotary movement of the locking member 26 within the counter bore 25.

The pawl 21 is biased to its ratchet engaging position by means of four coil springs 29 interposed between the floor of the recess 22 and the top face of the pawl 21 as best shown in FIGURE 4. The springs are secured at one end in circular bores formed in the top face of the pawl 21 and bear against the floor of the recess 22.

A lever 30 pivotally mounted on the movable jaw carrier 4 is provided for operating the pawl 21. At one end of the lever 30 is a shaft 31 received in the circular opening 22 in the movable jaw carrier 4. The lower end 32 of the shaft 31 extends through the circular opening 23 in the pawl 21 and into the recess 24 in the ratchet engaging face of the pawl. Mounted on the shaft 31 is the locking member 26 which has an opening formed therein to match the cross section of the lower end 32 of the shaft. The lower end 32 of the shaft 31 has a flat portiton in cross section which serves to key the locking member 25 thereto.

Mounted at the end of the shaft 31 is a transverse pawl lifter pin 33 which engages the helicoidal cam surface formed in the recess 24 in the pawl 21. Rotary movement of the shaft 31 turns the pawl lifter pin 33 relative to the helicoidal surface so that the pawl 21 may be lifted out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 12 to provide for the readjustment of the jaws 5 and 6.

The shaft 31 has a drill spot 34 near the lever 30 which is engaged by a pin 35 slidably received in a circular opening 36 in the movable jaw carrier 4, parallel thereto and closely adjacent the top surface thereof as best shown in FIGURE 8. A set screw 37 received in the opposite end of the opening 36 is separated from the pin 35 by a coil spring 38 which serves to bias the pin 35 toward the shaft 31. This arrangement provides a positive intermediate stop for the lever 30 between the two limits of its pivotal movement. In this intermediate position the pawl 21 is in its ratchet engaging position but is not locked therein so that the movable jaw carrier 4 may be moved inwardly to a closer jaw spacing merely by pressing the jaws together. The pawl 21 will then click across the sloping faces of the ratchet teeth 12.

Assembly The assembly of the open-end wrench A thus described is preferably performed as follows beginning with the movable jaw carrier 4: v

The springs 29 and locking member 26 are positioned in the chamber 20 formed in the slide 13. The shaft 31 of the lever 30 is then inserted through the circular opening 22 in the slide 13 and through the locking member 26. The pawl 21 is inserted in the chamber 20 with the lower end 32 of the shaft 31 passing through the circular opening 23. The pawl lifter pin 33 is then inserted in the lower end 32 of the shaft 31 to retain the pawl in the chamber 20.

The pin 35 is inserted in the circular opening 36, followed by the spring 38 and the set screw 37 to complete the assembly of the movable jaw carrier 4.

The slide 13 is then aligned with and inserted into the slideway 8 formed in the stationary portion 3 and pushed in the direction tending to close the jaws 5 and 6. The machine screw 18 is then screwed into the threaded bore 19 in the stationary portion 3 to complete the assembly.

Operation To operate the wrench, the jaws are preferably moved to their maximum spacing initially before being applied to a work piece by turning the lever 30 in a clockwise direction which, as may be seen from FIGURE 1, is the same general direction as that which the slide 13 must be moved to open the jaws. This lifts the pawl 21 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth to permit outward movement of the slide 13. The wrench head 2 is then loosely applied to the work piece and the movable jaw carrier 4 pressed inwardly until the jaws are tightly adjusted to the work piece.

The lever is then turned counter-clockwise to the locked position so that the locking member 26 will be moved over the upper face of the pawl 21 to lock the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth as shown in FIGURE 4. With the jaws thus locked at the desired spacing, the handle 1, may be turned to operate the wrench as desired. The jaws may be quickly released from the work piece as described above.

FIGURES 9 TO 14 FIGURES 9 to 14 show a modified form of the wrench head of FIGURES 1 to 8 wherein the locking feature is eliminated and the operating lever is movable between two positions only. The construction differs only as to the movable jaw carrier. Parts of the modified movable jaw carrier, which have corresponding parts in the wrench head of FIGURES 1 to 8, are identified by the same numerals followed by the letter a. All parts of the stationary portion of the wrench head are identified by the same numeral used for the wrench of FIGURE/S 1 to 8.

With the foregoing in mind, FIGURE 9 shows the modified form with the operating lever 30a shown in its clockwise limiting position in dashed lines and in its counter-clockwise limiting position in solid lines. Part of the slide 13a is broken away to show the ratchet teeth 12 in the slideway 8. The lever 30a has a cylindrical shaft 31a which is received in a circular opening 22a in the slide 13a. The shaft 3111 may be provided with a circumferential groove that receives a retaining ring which bears against the floor of the chamber 20a, as shown in FIGURES 12, 13 and 14. While the retaining ring is not essential to the operation of the wrench, it locks the shaft 31:: in place and prevents upward movement of the lever 30a when the pawl 21a is pushed over the ratchet teeth as the jaws are moved to a closed position.

The lower portion 32a of the shaft 31a extends through a circular opening 23a in the pawl 21a and into a recess 24a formed in the ratchet engaging face of the pawl, as best shown in FIGURES 12, 13 and 14.

Mounted at the end of the shaft 31a is a transverse pawl lifter pin 33a which engages the helicoidal ca-m surface formed in the recess 24a in the pawl 21a. The pin 33a lifts the pawl 21a in response to rotary movement of the shaft 31a in the same manner described above for the wrench head of FIGURES l to 8.

The lever 30a is spring loaded to its counter-clockwise limiting position by means of a hairpin spring 39 received in a recess formed in the top face of the slide 13a beneath the lever 30a. The tips of the spring are bentin opposite directions, to the plane of the spring, one tip being received in a small circular bore in the bottom of the lever and the other in a small circular bore in the recess in the top face of the slide 13a.

Moving the lever clockwise to the limiting position shown in dashed lines in FIGURE 9 lifts the pawl 21a out of engagement with the ratchet teeth as best shown in FIGURE 13 and also flexes the spring 39 so that the lever is biased to its counter-clockwise limiting position, shown in solid lines in FIGURE 9. With the lever 30a in its counter-clockwise limiting position, the pawl 21a engages the ratchet teeth as best shown in FIGURE 12.

The assembly and operation of the wrench head of FIGURES 9 to 14 are aubstantially the same as described above for the Wrench of FIGURES l to 8.

FIGURES 15 TO 19 FIGURES 15 through 19 show another wrench embodying the invention commonly known as a monkey wrench. The wrench B generally comprises a handle 40 terminating in a wrench head 41 which includes a stationary jaw 42 integral with the handle 40 and a movable jaw carrier 43 which moves in a direction parallel to the handle. The handle 40 is generally I shaped in cross-section and has ratchet teeth 44 formed on one side of the web portion thereof.

The movable jaw carrier 43 has a body portion 45 of tubular form adapted to envelop the handle 40. The wall of the body portion 45 overlying the ratchet teeth 44 has a rectangular opening 46 formed therein adapted to receive a pawl 47 which is mounted for reciprocating movement therein into and out of engagement with the ratchet'teeth 44. Formed in the upper face of the Wall of the tubular body portion 45 is a rectangular recess 48 surrounding the opening 46 and adapted to receive a cover plate 49 as best shown in FIGURE 19. The cover plate 49 may be screwed to the body portion 45 or secured thereto by any other suitable means.

The pawl 47 is biased toward engagement with the ratchet teeth by means of four coil springs 50 secured at one end in circular bores in the upper face of the pawl 47. The other ends of the springs 50 bear against the bottom of the bottom of the cover plate 49.

An actuator button 51 mounted on top of the cover plate 49 has a bar 52 which is slidably received in a slot 53 formed in the cover plate 49, and which extends through an opening 54 in the pawl 47 and into a recess 55 formed in the ratchet-engaging face of the pawl. The recess 55 is formed to provide a sloping cam surface to be used for lifting the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 44, as hereinafter described.

Located near the end of the bar 52 is a transverse pawl lifter pin 56 secured in a small circular opening in the shaft 52 and adapted to bear against the sloping cam surface formed in the recess 55 whereby movement of the actuator button 51 lifts the pawl upwardly to its disengaged position, as best shown in FIGURE 18 to provide for the readjustment of the jaws.

Located on the bar 52 adjacent the upper face of the pawl 47 is a locking plate 57 which provides a means for locking the pawl 47 in its ratchet-engaging position when desired. The locking plate 57 is slotted so that it may be mounted on the bar 52 in grooves 58 formed in the sides of the bar 52.

Extending laterally from the plate 57 are two wing portions 59 which are curved slightly downwardly to provide some spring action when the locking plate 57 is moved into locking position. When the plate is in locking position, the wing portions 59 engage detents 60 formed in the top face of the pawl 47 to provide positive stop.

By sliding the actuator button 51 in a direction tending to close the jaws, the locking plate 57 may be aligned over a portion of the top face pawl between the pawl and the bottom of the cover plate with the wing portions 59 in the detents 60 as shown in FIGURE 17, so that upward movement of the pawl is prevented. When the pawl 47 is lifted out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 44, the locking plate 47 fits in a rectangular recess 61 in the top face of the pawl as shown in FIGURE 18.

Slidably received in a tapped hole in the pawl 47 parallel to the direction of movement thereof is a peg 62 in the form of a hollow cylindrical shell which bears against the shaft 52 as best shown in FIGURE 18. A set screw 63 is separated from the pin 62 by a coil spring 64 partially received within the peg 62 which serves to bias the actuator button 51 toward its intermediate position wherein the pawl 47 is in engagement with the rack 44 as shown in FIGURE 16.

Assembly In the assembly of the wrench B, the pawl mechanism is first assembled by placing the coil springs 50' in the circular bores provided in the top face of the pawl 47 together with the locking plate 57 in the recess 61, placing the cover plate 49 over the pawl 47 .and inserting the bar 52 of the actuator button 51 through the slot 53 in the cover plate 49. The locking plate 57 is then clipped in the grooves 58 on the bar 52 and the bar pushed through the opening 54 in the pawl and into the recess 55 formed in the bottom face of the pawl. The pawl lifter pin 56 is then inserted in the transverse opening in the bar 52. The peg 62 and coil spring 64 are inserted through the tapped hole provided in the end of the pawl 47 and the set screw 63 screwed in behind them.

The movable jaw carrier 43 is slid onto the handle 40 and the pawl assembly inserted in the rectangular opening 46 in the tubular body portion 45 thereof. The cover plate 49 is then riveted or otherwise secured in the rectangular recess 48 provided.

Operation In the operation of the wrench B, the movable jaw carrier 43 is normally moved to a wide jaw spacing by pushing the actuator button 51 in a direction tending to open the jaws to lift the pawl 47 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 44 and permit the jaws to open. The wrench head 41 may then be loosely applied over a work piece. The movable jaw carrier 43 is then pushed in a direction tending to close the jaws until the jaws are adjusted to the work piece. In this position, the actuator button 51 may be moved forward in a direction tending to close the jaws to bring the locking plate 56 over the upper face of the pawl and thus lock the pawl into its ratchet-engaging position. The handle 40 may then be turned to operate the wrench as desired. The jaws may be quickly released from the work piece as described above.

It is to be understood that in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, variations and modifications of the specific devices herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An adjustable wrench comprising a handle having a stationary jaw at one end and a box type slideway therein having ratchet teeth formed therein in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of turn of said wrench, a movable jaw carrier slidably mounted in said slideway on said handle for adjustment to a desired jaw spacing,

a pawl mounted in said movable jaw carrier for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with said ratchet teeth to prevent movement of said movable jaw carrier to a wider jaw spacing when in engagement with said ratchet teeth, spring :means biasing said pawl toward engagement with said ratchet teeth, and lifting means carried by said movable jaw carrier for operating said pawl, said lifting means including a manually operable actuating member, said actuating member when moved in a direction tending to open the wrench lifts said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet teeth and slides said movable jaw carrier to a position of wider jaw spacing, and when moved in a direction tending to close the wrench moves the jaw carrier until the movable jaw is arrested and further movement locks the pawl in engagement with said ratchet teeth, said ratchet teeth, the pawl, the spring means biasing the said pawl, and the lifting means for said pawl all being enclosed between the said handle, the movable jaw, and said actuating member.

2. An adjustable wrench comprising a handle having a stationary jaw at one end and having ratchet teeth formed therein in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of turn of said wrench, a movable jaw carrier slidably mounted on said handle for adjustment to a desired jaw spacing, a pawl mounted in said movable jaw carrier for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with said ratchet teeth to' prevent movement of said movable jaw carrier to a wider jaw spacing when in engagement with said ratchet teeth, spring means biasing said pawl toward engagement with said ratchet teeth, and lifting means carried by said movable jaw carrier for operating said pawl, said lifting means including a manually operable actuating :member which, when moved in a direction tending to open the wrench, lifts said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet teeth and slides said movable jaw carrier to a position of wider jaw spacing, said lifting means comprising a helicoidal cam surface formed in the ratchet-teeth-engaging face of the pawl and a cam follower pin engageable with said cam surface and carried by a shaft extending through said pawl and adapted to be turned by the actuating member to pivot said pin relative to said cam surface and lift said pawl out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

3. An adjustable wrench comprising a handle having a stationary jaw at one end and having ratchet teeth formed therein in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of turn of said wrench, a movable jaw carrier slidably mounted on said handle for adjustment to a desired jaw spacing, a pawl mounted in said movable jaw carrier for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with said ratchet teeth to prevent movement of said movable jaw carrier to a wider jaw spacing when in engagement with said ratchet teeth, spring means biasing said pawl toward engagement with said ratchet teeth, and lifting means carried by said movable jaw carrier for operating said pawl, said lifting means including a manually operable actuating member which, when moved in a direction tending to open the wrench, lifts said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet teeth and slides said movable jaw carrier to a position of wider jaw spacing, said lifting means comprises a sloping planar cam surface formed in the ratchet-teeth-engaging face of the pawl and cam follower means engageable with said cam surface and carried by a bar extending through said pawl, said cam follower means when adapted to be moved longitudinally of said pawl by said actuating member slides said cam follower means relative to said cam surface and lifts said pawl out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

4. An adjustable wrench comprising a handle having a stationary jaw at one end and having ratchet teeth formed therein in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of turn of said wrench, a movable jaw carrier slidably mounted on said handle for adjustment to a desired jaw spacing, a pawl mounted in said movable jaw carrier for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with said ratchet teeth whereby said pawl prevents movement of said movable jaw carrier to a wider jaw spacing when in engagement with said ratchet teeth, spring means biasing said pawl toward engagement with said ratchet teeth, cam means carried by said movable jaw carrier for oper ating said pawl, said cam means including a manually operable actuating member, means operable by said actuating member for locking said pawl in engagement with said ratchet teeth, whereby urging said actuating member in a direction tending to open the jaws lifts said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet teeth and slides said movable jaw carrier to a position of wider jaw spacing and urging said actuating member in a direction tending to close the jaws operates said locking means to lock said pawl in engagement with said ratchet teeth.

5. An adjustable wrench as defined in claim 4 wherein said locking means comprises a locking plate having portions adapted to be interposed between an interior wall of said movable jaw carrier and the pawl when said pawl is in engagement with the ratchet teeth, said locking plate being operable by the actuating member.

6. An adjustable open-end wrench comprising a handle terminating in a stationary jaw having a box-type slideway formed therein, a movable jaw carrier having a slide receivable in said slideway, said slideway having a floor with ratchet teeth formed therein having locking faces in planes parallel with the axis of turn of said wrench, said floor defining a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of turn of said wrench, a pawl mounted in said slide for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with said ratchet teeth to prevent movement of said movable jaw carrier to a wider jaw spacing when said pawl is in engagement with said ratchet teeth, spring means biasing said pawl toward engagement with said ratchet teeth, a pawl actuating means carried by said slide for operating said pawl, cam means on the pawl, cam follower means on the pawl actuating means which lifts said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet teeth when said actuating means is moved in a direction tending to open the wrench and slides said movable jaw carrier to a position of wider jaw spacing, and which retains said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet teeth or permits ratcheting over said teeth when said actuating means is moved in a direction to close said wrench until said jaw movement is arrested and then further movement of said actuating means in a closing direction causes the cam follower to engage the cam and lock said pawl into engagement with said ratchet teeth, said ratchet teeth, pawl, spring means, and cam means being enclosed within said stationary and movable jaw members and said actuating means.

7. An adjustable open-end wrench as defined in claim 6 wherein said cam means comprises a helicoidal cam surface formed in the ratchet-teeth-engaging face of the pawl and a cam follower pin engageable with said cam surface and carried by a shaft extending through said pawl and adapted to be turned by the actuating member to pivot said pin relative to said cam surface and lift said pawl out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

8. An adjustable open-end wrench comprising a handle terminating in a stationary jaw and having a slideway formed therein, a movable jaw carrier having a slide receivable in said slideway, said slideway having a floor with ratchet teeth formed therein, said floor defining a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of turn of said wrench, a pawl mounted in said slide for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with said ratchet teeth, whereby said pawl prevents movement of said movable jaw carrier to a wider jaw spacing when in engagement with said ratchet teeth, spring means biasing said pawl toward engagement with said ratchet teeth,

cam means carried by said slide for operating said pawl, said cam means including a manually operable actuating member, means operable by said actuating member for locking said pawl in engagement with said ratchet teeth, whereby urging said actuating member in a direction tending to open the jaws lifts said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet teeth and slides said movable jaw carrier to a position of wider jaw spacing and urging said actuating member in a direction tending to close the jaws operates said locking means to lock said pawl in engagement with said ratchet teeth.

9. An adjustable open-end wrench as defined in claim 8 wherein said locking means comprises a locking plate having extending ears adapted to be pivoted into interposition between an interior wall of said slide and the pawl when said pawl is in engagement with the ratchet teeth, said locking plate being pivotable into and out of locking position by said actuating member.

10. An adjustable monkey wrench comprising a handle having a stationary jaw at one end and having ratchet teeth formed therein in a place substantially perpendicular to the axis of turn of said wrench, a tubular jaw carrier adapted to receive said handle and slidably mounted thereon for adjustment to a desired jaw spacing, a pawl mounted in said movable jaw carrier for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with said ratchet teeth whereby said pawl prevents movement of said tubular jaw carrier to a wider jaw spacing when in engagement with said ratchet teeth, spring means biasing said pawl toward engagement with said ratchet teeth, and cam means carried by said tubular jaw carrier for operating said pawl, said cam means including a manually operable actuating member, means operable by said actuating member for locking said pawl in engagement with said ratchet teeth, whereby urging said actuating member in a direction tending to open the jaws lifts said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet teeth and slides said tubular jaw carrier longitudinally on said handle to a position of wider jaw spacing and urging said actuating member in a direction tending to close the jaws operates said locking means to lock said pawl in engagement with said ratchet teeth.

11. An adjustable monkey wrench as defined in claim 10 wherein said cam means comprises a sloping planar cam surface formed in the ratchet-teeth-engaging face of the pawl and a cam follower engageable with said cam surface and carried by a bar extending through said pawl and adapted to be moved longitudinally of said pawl by the actuating member to slide said cam follower relative to said cam surface and lift said pawl out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

12. An adjustable monkey wrench as defined in claim 11 wherein said locking means comprises a locking plate carried by the bar and having portions adapted to be interposed between an interior wall of the tubular jaw carrier and the pawl when said pawl is in engagement with the ratchet teeth, said locking plate being operable by the actuating member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 722,483 3/1903 Boyd 8l143 728,410 5/1903 Quinlan 81143 966,943 8/1910 McDonald 81145 1,155,278 9/1915 Rush 81-143 1,179,574 4/1916 Stephens 81-l43 1,322,240 11/1919 Holub 81143 1,397,214 11/1921 Hose 81145 2,760,396 8/1956 Simpson 81145 X WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE WRENCH COMPRISING A HANDLE HAVING A STATIONARY JAW AT ONE END AND A BOX TYPE SLIDEWAY THEREIN HAVING RATCHET TEETH FORMED THEREIN IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF TURN OF SAID WRENCH, A MOVABLE JAW CARRIER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SLIDEWAY ON SAID HANDLE FOR ADJUSTMENT TO A DESIRED JAW SPACING, A PAWL MOUNTED IN SAID MOVABLE JAW CARRIER FOR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RATCHET TEETH TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE JAW CARRIER TO A WIDER JAW SPACING WHEN IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RATCHET TEETH, SPACING WHEN IN ENGAGEMENT WITH WARD ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RATCHET TEETH, AND LIFTING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID MOVABLE JAW CARRIER FOR OPERATING SAID PAWL, SAID LIFTING MEANS INCLUDING A MANUALLY OPERABLE ACTUATING MEMBER, SAID ACTUATING MEMBER WHEN MOVED IN A DIRECTION TENDING TO OPEN THE WRENCH LIFTS SAID PAWL OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RATCHET TEETH AND SLIDES SAID MOVABLE JAW CARRIER TO A POSITION OF WIDER JAW SPACING, AND WHEN MOVED IN A DIRECTION TENDING TO CLOSE THE WRENCH MOVES THE JAW CARRIED UNTIL THE MOVABLE JAW IS ARRESTED AND FURTHER MOVEMENT LOCKS THE PAWL IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RATCHET TEETH, SAID RATCHET TEETH, THE PAWL, THE SPRING MEANS BIASING THE SAID PAWL, AND THE LIFTING MEANS FOR SAID PAWL ALL BEING ENCLOSED BETWEEN THE SAID HANDLE, THE MOVABLE JAW, AND SAID ACTUATING MEMBER. 